Reinforced concrete using flat stainless steel bars

To develop a new process of reinforced concrete, based on a very innovative concept, using flat stainless steel bars with rectangular section, instead of traditional corrugated round bars.

The aim of the MATINOX project is to define and develop a very innovative way of building structures in reinforced concrete and of manufacturing precast reinforced concrete products (pipes, beams, voussoirs, piles, etc.), using flat stainless steel bars with rectangular section instead of traditional corrugated round iron bars.
The MATINOX project is being initiated by a small-sized French civil works company, MATIERE S.A.
The other participant is a Belgian company, UGINE & ALZ BELGIUM (a subsidiary of ARCELOR-MITTAL, the world leader of steel).
As detailed under Technological Development, the MATINOX project will include three successive stages of development:
1) Flat stainless steel bars with corrugated surface;
2) Flat stainless steel bars with smooth surface (between two blocking sections);
3) Stainless steel skin used for both reinforcement and tightness.
The major impacts of the future technology are:
* Easier production of the reinforcements:
- the natural bending of flat metal bars enables an easier handling of the reinforcement,
- bonding of the flat bars is possible, as well as simplified welding procedures.
* Reduction of the thickness of the structures, along with an increase in resistance:
- using flat bars enables a lower level of thickness of the concrete,
- a consequence of such a property is a drastic reduction of the raw material consumption and subsequent savings in energy (production, transportation, erecting).
* High ductility of the resulting concrete products:
- such property is very useful for underground structures, where ground deformations often lead to irreversible damages.
* No sudden collapse when the structure falls:
- one of the major advantages of the future technology, which has been proven by the feasibility study performed by MATIERE S.A., is the absence of sudden collapse when the structures falls, due to overloading.
* Tightness of the concrete when using a stainless steel skin:
- the use of a stainless steel skin for both reinforcement and tightness will give concrete structures a very innovative property, leading to new uses, which are impossible with traditional concrete, as well as giving protection against harsh environments.
The MATINOX project could thus revolutionise the design and production of structures, buildings and products made of reinforced concrete.
Keywords: reinforced concrete, stainless steel.
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